The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-09-08

uCeiEoulc pOSScSsiOn 10 woman. TOT
tunately, it is nearly always at the COM
mand Of those who have the disposition
to acquire or retain in. Inasmuch a.
nature sometimes acts in stepmotherly
way in distributing her gifts Of beauty,
It may be justifable or advisable to sup.
ply her omissions by availing oneself Of
the resources of art.
Many good complexion is lost on &C.
count of the development of unsightly
yellowish or brownish spots, commonly
called moth patches" These spots
usually occur upon the forehead, tenn
pies, cheeks, near the angles of the
mouth, or other parts of the face. They
do not manifest themselves by any symp-
toms, but their mere presence is suffl-
ciently annoying. In many cases there
are disturbances Of one sort or another
of some internal organs, but in others
the discoloration of the skin seems to be
the only evidence Of any deviation from
good health.
Why the cells of certain limited regions
of the surface should produce an excess
of coloring matter has never been clearly
explained. That the nervous system is
largely concerned in the over-production
and irregular distribution of the pigment
seems certain, but the manner in which
the nervous system produces this effect
is still mystery.
While moth patches" so called are
nearly always located upon the face,
Liver spots" which resemble them very
closely in appearance, are as often lin
tied to the chest, back and arms. The
front and sides of the chest, and some-
times the neck, arms and abdomen, are
mottled by bright brown, irregular
patches, which are sometimes slightly
itchy and scaly. Physicians have sup
posed that these discolorations are more
frequent in persons with lung diseases,
but this frequency is probably only ap-
parent, es such patients have the chest
oftener exposed for examination, leading
to the more ready discovery of the spots.
Formerly these stained patches were
believed to have some connection with in.
ternal diseases; hence one of the common
names by which they are known-"liver
spots" 1t is now well established, how.
ever, that internal diseases have nothing
whatever to do with the development Of
Liver spots" They may occur in the
healthiest subject or in the victim Of the
last stages of consumption, without be-
ing influenced in the slightest degree BY
the general condition or exercising any
influence upon the latter. 1t is q purely
local and external affection.
Forty-one years ago young German
physician by the name of Eichstedt dis
covered that the cause of this discolora-
tion was q tiny vegetable organism, q
parasitic plant, which can be easily seen
with the aid of microscope msgnifying
4OO-5OO diameters. This plant belongs
to the same class as the mushrooms It's
botanical name is microspOron .furfur.
After the cause of the disease was
thus made plain, its treatment was q
simple matter. Instead of dosing the pa
tient with nauseOus drugs, under the
tiOn, simple lotion which would de-
stroy the life of this minute plant was all
that was needed to cure the trouble.
The cause being removed, the effect
ceased.
For silver spots," or, if the medical
name be preferred, pityriasis versicolor.
the best and simplest remedy is lotion
composed of one ounce of hyposulphite
of soda dissolved in q pint of water.
This is to be mopped on the spots daily
after washing with soap and water. The
lotion should be allowed to dry upon the
skin before dressing. In the course of
week or two all the discoloration will
usually have disappeared. But some of
the germs or seeds of the plant probably
still live among the scales of the upper
layers of the skin, and will again de-
velop IT the treatment be at once dis
continued. 1t is better, therefore, to
keep on with the use of the lotion several
weeks after the disease has been appa-
rently cured, in order to prevent its re-
turn.
The discolorations of the face, moth
patches" are not so readily removed as
the "liver spots" Knowing merely that
there is an increase of pigment in the
deeper layers of the skin, without know
nent cure cannot always be promised.
In some cases, where the cause is found
in disease of some internal organ, dys-
pepsia for example, q cure may often be
effected. Temporary improvement can,
however, always be obtained by appro-
pirate local measures.
Instead Of waiting for nature to cast
of the dead cells of the scarf-skin in her
own time, we hasten the process. A
younger, lighter-colored layer of cells is
thus brought to the surface, and the
former freshness and brillisncy of com
plexion can often be restored, in q
measure, at all events.
The means to secure this are simple,
but require persistence in their use. A
lotion of salicylic acid in bay rum, ten
grains to the ounce, is often successful in
time. A better application, but less
agreeable, is an ointment of one drachm
of subnitrate of bismuth to one ounce of
cold cream. This may be applied at
night and removed with soap and water
in the morning. If this ointment should
irritate the skin, its use may be stopped
for two or three days and then resumed.
In some cases thick lather of soap
allowed to remain ON during the night
acts better than anything else In remov.
ing the spots.
As intimated above, most of these dis
colorations of the face are in some way
connected with morbid conditions Of in
ternal organs; and inssmuch as the latter
may sometimes be of serious character
the family physician should always be
consulted In order that the causes of the
excessive pigmentation may be discOv-
cred and, II possible, removed.
GEORGE II. ROHE, n. d.
The Last Question ON Examination DAY.
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